I wish all HAPPY HOLADAYS and a GREAT NEW YEAR

To end out the year and start the Winter Fishing we had as DISASATER at the Trinity River Hatchery. On November 7th the intake screens to the hatcher plugged up when the large debris screen broke and allowed the debris to clog the intake screens thus disallowing water flow into the hatchery. The water flow into the hatchery was so low that the water in the hatchery started to heat up to a temperature that would hurt the egg producing area and the raceways for the juvenile fish would not live. The end result after much debate between the California Department of Fish and Wild, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Trinity River Restoration Program it was decided the best solution would to release all the fish into the Trinity River. This also included adult fish held waiting to spawn. This was a great effort to save the fish in hopes they would survive to return for later years. The fertilized eggs were saved by diverting water to keep them at the right temperature to hatch. These were difficult decisions to make but hopefully with greater future results. It will take two to three years before we will see the results but we all hope for e the best. This was a great effort by the people that run the hatchery. We have had enough of NO FISHING seasons.

The last report I made a mistake when I used BLM (Bureau of Land Management) for the BOR (the Bureau of Reclamation) about the Synchronization Flows. The Bureau of Reclamation orders the flow releases as they are the ones that control the water behind the Dams. The Trinity Management Council makes the decision to do the flows and the TRRP orders the flows through the BOR. Speaking of which the Synchronized Flows did occur over the Christmas Holiday. December 25 and 26 with peaks of 6,500cfs releases into the Trinity River.

All of the weirs for the Trinity and Klamath Rivers have been pulled!

Trinity River Hatchery summary: The Trinity River Hatchery count for Julian Week 47, ending Nov. 25, 2025; Chinook Salmon, 118-Jacks, 961-adults, total 1,1079, season total 6,940, 1,679 hatchery fish; Coho Salmon, 2-Jacks, 12-adults, season total 29; Steelhead, 2-1/2-lbs, 12-adult, total 14, season total 590, 581- hatchery.

Junction City Weir summary:  Julian Week 50, ending Dc. 16, 2025: Chinook Salmon, 0-jacks, 0-adults, total 0, season total 1,279, 177-Hatchery Chinook; Coho Salmon, 0- jacks, 2-adults, season total 9; Steelhead, 0-1/2-lbs, 6-adults, total 6, season total 425, 145- Hatchery Steelhead; Brown Trout 1, total 1, season total 88.

Willow Creek summary: The WC weir was pulled October 20th due to rain and the possibility of washing out the weir.  Julian Week 42, ending Oct. 21, 2025: Chinook Salmon, 12-jacks, season total 1,959, 253-Hatcher Chinook: Coho Salmon, 1-jacks, 3- adults, total 3, season total 13, 8-Hatchery Coho; Steelhead, 4-½-lbs, 80- adults, total 84, season total 601, 168- Hatchery Steelhead.

Klamath River summary: Shasta River starting Dec. 4, 2025, 2025 count; Chinook Salmon, 5,859- season total, Coho Salmon total 2, 240-adult Steelhead season total 278;  Scott River Dec. 4,2025; 2,877 Chinook Salmon, 38  Shasta River, Chinook Salmon season total 2,876, Coho Salmon-  38 season total, 109, 140 Steelhead; Bogus Creek starting Sep. 26, 2025, ending Dec. 4,2025 count, 316-Chinook Salmon, season total 1,283, 0-Coho, season total 39, 0-Steelhead, season total 124;  Jenny Creek starting Sep. 19, 2025, Dec. 4, 2025 count; 208-Chinook Salmon, total 861, 0- Coho Salmon, season total0, 1-Steelhead, total 12; Shovel Creek starting Sep. 2025, ending Dec. 4, 20256 count; 263- Chinook Salmon, season total 723, 4- Coho Salmon, 0 Steelhead. This doesn’t count spawning downstream of the weirs.

Lewiston Lake: Lewiston Lake is having a huge amount of water flowing through it right now so there is very little fishing going on right now. Fishing might start up again after the flows are reduced. You can contact the Pine Cove Marina and ask Louise or Matt (530)778-3878) for Lewiston Lake fishing; for the Upper Trinity River you can call Indian Creek Lodge, Andy or Hannah, (530)623-6294), Junction City Store, (530)623-2803. The Junction City store has a new owner and I have not contacted her yet.  

Willow Creek area: Willow Creek is seeing some very high water at this time due to winter storms and the Synchronized Flows. There could be fish in the river but it would be very hard to fish for them because of the high water!

Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 47,084cfs. This is an increase of 43,956cfs. The Iron Gate/Bogus Creek area is flowing 1,310cfs an increase of 325cfs from the last report.  The river is flowing very high and would be very hard to fish at this time. You might want to keep an on the weather and plan to fish in between storms. For information I suggest you call or check out their face book Marble Mountain Guest Ranch (800) 522-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530)905-0758 to get proper fishing information to fish the Upper Klamath.

Lake Conditions: It appears that the readings are being posted a day late. Whiskeytown Lake is 91 %, an increase of 7% with inflows of 4,903cfs and releases of 2,023cfs.  Shasta Lake is 69% of capacity, an increase of 10% and plus 0ft with inflows of 3,527cfs and releasing 4,269cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 97% of capacity, an increase of 7% with inflows of 4,349cfs and releases of 4,095cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 65% of capacity, an increase of 14% and plus 49ft, with inflows of 36,371cfs with releases of 2,104cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 55% of capacity, an increase of 9% and plus 10ft, with inflows of 17,229cfs with releases of 8,473cfs into the American River. Trinity Lake storage is 1,934,329AF an increase of 136,744AF of storage. 

Trinity Lake: The lake is 34ft below the overflow, a decrease of 10ft and 79% of capacity, an increase of 9%, with inflows of 8,844cfs and releasing 4,832cfs into Lewiston Lake with 3,578cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant, and releasing 4,095cfs into the Sacramento River, a decrease of 174cfs. 

Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 94% of capacity, an increase 0% and water releases of 309cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 45.5 degrees, as of 0:00pam today Saturday December 27, 2025.  Limekiln Gulch is 9.19 at 6,307cfs. Douglas City is 12.02ft with flows of 7,842cfs with water temperatures of 46.0 degrees. Helena is 19.23ft at 10,538cfs with water temps of 46.6 degrees. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 12.29 at 10,811cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 21,349cfs, air is 41 degrees and water at 46.6 degrees, Hoopa is 24.82ft at 29,705cfs with water at 48.2 degrees. 

Klamath River flows and conditions: Flows at Bogas Creek are 2.31ft with flows of 1,310cfs, an increase of 328cfs. Seiad Valley is 6.44ft at 6,154cfs. Indian Creek is 5.79ft at 813cfs. Happy Camp is estimated to be 6,967cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 12,03cfs, and the Salmon River is 6.22ft at 5,348cfs. Orleans is 10.57ft at 17,379cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 21.11ft flowing at 58,797cfs with water temps of 48.0 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 11.82ft with flows of 10,797cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 18.45ft at N/A.

Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 53 and a low of 41 degrees. Rain for the week was 5.20in with a water year total to date of 19.50 and 0.00in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 61 and a low of 34. The weather predicted for the next week is scattered clouds with showers then some scattered clouds and then more rain.

Websites: MyOutdoorBuddy.com, Willowcreekchamber.com,
from Willow Creek, CA Phone 530-629-3554, E-mail yen2fish@yahoo.com